Motor-vehicle.



R. HUF?.

. MOTOR VEHICLE.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1907.

Patented May 7,1912

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MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED 11.116,28, 1907.

Patented May 7, 1912 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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"RUSSELL HUFF, 0F DETROIT, MICHGAN, ASSGNOR, BSZ' MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PACKARD 'MGTOR CAR COMPANY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATIN 0F MICHIGAN.

MGTOR-VEHCLE.

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To all 'whom it may concern.' l

vBe it known that I, RUSSELL HUFF, a citizen ofthe'U'n-ited States, residing at Detroit, Wayne county, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful lmp-rovements inl Motor-Vehicles, of which the tollowing is a speciiication.

The present invention relates to improvements in the bodies of motor vehicles, and the objects of the invention are to. so construct the body that it may be carried lower than heretofore relatively to the rear wheels and axle, while .permitting of sulicient vertical movement upon its springs to provide for easy riding and the proper protection of the' vehicle.

The invention will be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a left side view of the rear portion of a motor car, the left rear wheel being removed; Fig. 2 is a section on the line '2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the concave plate shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the view being taken from the line 2%#3 in Fig. 2 and in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the plate as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 2 but showing a slightly modiiied form of the side plate.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the rear part of the body of a motor car, 2 the trame upon which the body rests, 3 the :springs which carry the rear part of the trarne, 4 .the rear axle upon which the springs rest, and v5 the rear wheels. It is desirable in motor car construction to have the body as low as possible, bot-h to facilitate getting into and out' ot the vehicle and to keep the center of gravity low to prevent swaying in passing around curves, `and this must be accomplished without decreasing the radius of the wheels, the tendency being to increase rather than decrease the diameter of the wheels at the present time. With this object in view l have olf-set the trarne 2 upwardly directly over the axle, as shown at 6 in Fig. 1, and instead ot' carrying the side of the body in a straight line down to the level of the seat 7, or thereabout, I have cut out the side of the body and inserted aplate 8 which is concave or recessed onV its outer side-to permit the body to descend so that Spccication of Letters Patent.

Patented May '7 1912.

Application'led August 28, 1907. Serial No. 39),494.

the upper side ot' the wheel may pass the level of the seat.

Referring to Figs.- 1 to 4, it will be seen that the plate 8 is externally concave, that is, concave or recessed on its cuter side, provided with. a level or horizontal edge, and with an upper edge which is curved substantially to the curvature of the wheel guard 9.

The lower edge is provided with a horizontal l[iange 1U provided with holes for screws or bolts by which it may be Iattached to the seat or other part of the body, while, the upper edge is provided with a substantially vert-ical iange 11 which is connected to and supports the side ot the body. The plate 8 is preferably cast ot aluminum or other suitable metal and lugs 12 may be .cast on it to which the vertical parts 13 of the vtrarnework may be attached. i

As shown in Fig. 5 the plate 8a is similar to the plate 8' excepting that the upright and horizontal portions meet at an angle instead of being united by a curve as in Fig. 2, and excepting also that the horizontal portion, which is curved longitudinally to the curvature of the wheel guard 9, is provided with a flange lli to which the wheel. guard is connected by rivets or otherwise. Arms 15 for supporting the wheel guard may also be made integral with the plate 8a. The con cave or recessed plates 8 and 8 not only serve to permit the wheel to rise, but they serve as brackets to stiften and strengthen the body of the vehicle and to rigidly connect the sides with the lower part of the body. The wheel' guard 9 is connected at one end with the step 16 .and it may be supported at intermediate points either by .connection with the iiange of the plate 8, as shown in Fig. 5, or by suitable brackets 17, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Having described rny invention what I claim and desire to seclilre by-Letters Fatent is:

1. Ina mot-or vehicle, the combination with the rear axle and 'wh-eels, and the springs supported on said axle, of the body supported on said springs, said body comprising horizontally-elongated externally- .concave or recessed metal plates partly extending over said wheels and arranged to permit the body to descend relatively tothe said wheels, said plates having straight lower u mit the body to descend v adjacent parts of edges and upper edgesconforming to the curvature of the wheel guards `and having flanges on said edges for attachment to the tbe body, substantially as described.

2. ln a motor vehicle, the combination with the rear axle and. wheels and springs supported on said axle, of the frame having` olset portions over said'axle, the body supported on said frame, said 1oody comprising horizontally-elongated externally concave or recessed metal plates partly extending over said wheels, and arranged to perrelatively to said wheels, substantially as described.

3. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the rear axle and wheels, and the springs supported on said axle, of the body f vsupported on said springe-,said body corn- .permit the body to descend prising horizontally-elongated concave or recessed metal tending over said wheels externally plates partly eX- and arranged to relatively to said wheels, the upper edge' or veach of said plates conforming substantially to the curvature of the wheel guard and having a vertical flange formed adjacent and parallel to ysaid edge, and transverse parallel lugs for attachment to the adjacent parte of the body.

2l. ln a vehicle body, a lower panel,. an

upper panel overhanging the lower panel lcut-away portions over noemer G. ln a motor vehicle, the combination 45 with the rear aXle and wheels and the body supported on springs on said axle, said body .comprising lower panels wholly inside the -wheels and upper panels overhanging the wheels, said upper panels having segmental the wheels, and horizontally-elongated externally-concave or 11ecessed metal plates filling said eut-away por` tions and arranged to permit said body to' ldescend relatively to said wheels.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature 'in presence of t-wowitnesses.

RUssELL HUFF.

Witnesses:

MILTON lfnsnfi'ra CLARA DALE. 

